Lamp deflsctos



,E. MORRIS.

LAMP DEFLECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1922.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

km m% %4 am B Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

UNITED STATES E'MIL li'iLOItItIS, OI CLINTON, IOtVfil.

LAMP DEFLECTOR.

Applicationfiled March 24, 1922.

Q '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMIL Monuis, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Clinton,

in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa,

have invented new and useful Improvements in Lamp Deflectors, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention has relation to vehicle lamps, and refers particularly tomeans controlling the direction in which the rays of light may be thrownfrom such lamps.

One of the great problems of the present time is the provision, in thehead-lights of motor-driven vehicles which are capable of throwing astrong enough flood of light to illuminate the path of travel of thefast moving vehicle a substantial distance in advance of the vehicle, ofmeans for deflecting the light upon the approach of another vehicle fromthe opposite direction. One of the most successful methods used for thispurpose is that of dimming the lights either by the employment of twosets of lamps of high and low candle power respectively, or by the useof electrical resistances for the purpose of varying the intensity ofthe light generated in the lamps. But both of these methods areobjectionable in some respects. They are too expensive for the ordinaryperson to in stall. And they are too delicate to with stand the roughusage incident to the travel of such vehicles.

The object of the present invention is the provision of simple andinexpensive means for deflecting the head light of a motordrivenvehicle. A further object is to provide a substantial mechanical devicecapable oi withstanding severe operating condition. Another object isthe provision of mechanical device which may be controlled by thevehicle operator from his station.

To this end my invention consists in the combinations hereinafter fullydescribed and explained and which are illustrated in the accompan ingdrawing, of which,

Fig. 1, is a front elevation of the head lamp of a motor vehicleembodying the in vention, and Figs. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional sideelevations of the front portions of the lamp. showing the structure ofmy invention in different states of adjustment.

The device of my invention is attachable to any type of motor-vehiclelamp in the marlszet, the present time, and the lamp shown in thedrawing supposed to he rep-- resentative of the general type. It comSerial No. 546,362.

prises a substantially semi-circular, or conic shell 1, within which issuitably mounted a. light bulb 2, and the front of which is closed by aglass disc, 01', crystal There is a rim -l which is pressed over themouth of the shell for the purpose of maintaining the crystal and lampreflector in position, as usual in practice.

The device of my invention comprises a thin annular ring 5, which isprovided with two opposed series of lugs, 6 to 11, bent at right anglesto the body of the ring and arranged substantially in circle slightlylarger thanthe inner diameter of the rim 4:. The outer extren'iity ofeach of said lugs is perforated-to receive pivot members 12 to 17, ofscreen frames 12 to 1'7, which frames also are arcuate in shape and whenassembled, as shown, form a circle substantially as large as the innerrim diameter, and of a size to within the opposed lugs of the disc 5,between which cach screen is mounted to opcrate.

As the screens within the frame all are alike, except as to theirlength, a detailed description of one screen will suiliice. Reference istherefore invited to the screen secured between the opposed lugs 8 and 8which screen comprises a series of parallel bars, or slats 20 to 28, allof which are alilre, except as to length. In the drawing I have shownnine of these slats to each screen, which number I have found to beconvenient, but, of course, the structure may be differentlyproportioned, if desired, to suit different sizes of lamps. The width ofthe slats may be about twice the distance between the slats.

But the most important feature to note is the angular relation oi theslats to the frames. The slats are all rigidly secured to the "framesand inclined to an angle f about 25. When the screens are drawn togetherin a vertical continuation, as indicated in Fig. 2, it is noticed thatthe slats all are parallel to each other and forwardly inclined so as tothrow the light downward in front of the vehicle. In Fig. 3 the screensare shown open and here the slats are shown parallel in a horizontalplane, while the rames are rearwardly inclined. As a result of thisconstruction it is readily seen that a substantially free passage forthe light rays itlllldfitl the horizontal rays. when the screens areopen, and it is found that, in this position the slats are hardlynoticeable at a distance. But when closed they operate to deflect thelight downward, and a person may look directly at the lamp with comfort.Of course a practically uninterrupted stream of light still flows fromthe lamp, spreading its lustre before the vehicle, but this light onlyreaches the observer indirectly, and the intense and dangerous directglare is eliminated.

A device of this kind would not be of particular commercial value unlessit may be operated from. the drivers station, as I shall now proceed toindicate, and connections for this purpose may readily be made by anymechanic skilled in the art. In Fig. 2 I have shown how such connectionmay be made, but I do, of course, not limit myself to the particularmethod illustrated. Vertically through the center of the lamp is placeda thin rod or bar 30, on which a series of arms 31 to 36 are pivotallyhung in any suitable manner. Each of these arms extends to the center.of a screen, and they may be fastened on the middle slat of each screen,as shown, or some more substantial method of attach- .ment may beadopted. My aim herein is merely to point out to the mechanic that whichI wish to accomplish, and to make my drawing and description as simpleand clear as possible. The lower end of the rod is pivotally connectedfor operation by a'bellcrank 40, which in turn is'hung on a bracket 41of the lamp rim 4. From this bell-crank extends a rod 42 to the driversstation. In this case the lamp is mounted on automobile, and a fragment4-3 of the automobile, and a fragment 43 of the automobile dashboard isindicated. The operating rod 42 may terminate IILU. button dd which thedriver pulls out to the position indicated in Fig. 2, when he wishes todeflect the light. Where it is founddesirable to providemeai'is for.maintainii'ig the device locked in open or closed position, such meansmay take the form of a resiliei'it linger 4'5 .)ositioncd to (I14 gonotches 4-2, 42 of the rod ()1- more claliioratc operating and locking:means may be employed, if desired.

, The vertical rod 30and the arms 31. to 36 are preferably made fromvery thin material, set edgewise relative to the light rays, in whichcase they will hardly be noticeable when the screens are open on accountof the halation incident to the light rays passing through the screens.

In order to attach or remove the structure of my invention it is onlynecessary to remove the rim 4:, to place the ring 5 behind the glass;and then to put the rim back in place.

From the foregoing description it is seen that I aim to provide adeflecting apparatus which will direct substantially the full amount oflight, either directly forward or diagonally downward, and that Ipropose to operate the device from the drivers station. The claims aredrawn to such structure, and they are broad enough to cover suchmechanical modifications necessary to make the device of my inventiondurable and easy to operate.

I claim:

1. In a lamp, an annular frame mountable behind the glass front of thelamp, aseries of screens oscillatory in saidframe, each screencomprising end frames and a plurality of thinpara llel bars, obliquelysecured between said end frames.

2. In a lamp, a vertical series of oscillatory screens, each screenhaving obliquely fixed parallel bars for deflecting the light rays, andmeans for oscillating said screens until said parallel bars reach ahorizontal position.

3. In a lamp comprising, a casing, a reflector, a light within thereflector, and a glass closing the frontof the reflector, the

combination with an annular disc placed between the glass and thereflector, said disc provided with opposed series of lugs rearwardlydirected, a series of end frai'nes pivotally hung in said lugs, eachframe made with a plurality of parallel cross bars obliquely secured 'insaid end frames, and

means for rocking said frames to swing all of said cross bars into ahorizontal position.

1-. In a vehicle head light, a'disc detachably mounted in said headlightand provided with projecting lugs, end frames pivotally hung in saidlugs, a plurality of equidistant bars rigidly and obliquely seemed ineach pair of end frames, said ilirames nor mally swung out of line tobring the said bars into horizontal position, and manual means operatedfrom the vehicle dashboard for swinging the frames into continuedvertical alinement, thereby deflecting the light of the lamp downward.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto a'fixed my signature.

EMIL norms.

